Osan City Pushes Hard to Secure Maximum Share in 'Unam Valley AI City Urban Development Project'

[Suwon Ilbo=Lee Su-won] Osan City is continuing aggressive administrative efforts to secure the maximum share in the 'Unam Valley AI City Urban Development Project'.

Mayor Lee Kwon-jae of Osan City visited the National Assembly on the 14th and held talks with National Assembly member Kim Sun-gyo of the People Power Party, requesting support in persuading the Korea Rural Community Corporation to transfer all of its 19.7% stake in the Unam Valley AI City urban development project to Osan City on a paid basis.

Mayor Lee's visit to Member Kim was aimed at enlisting the legislator as an intermediary. Kim is a member of the National Assembly's Committee on Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Forestry (hereinafter "Agriculture and Fisheries Committee"), which oversees the Korea Rural Community Corporation, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and is a National Assembly member from the Gyeonggi region.

This follows Mayor Lee's visit to Suwon City Hall on the 11th, where he met with Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun to request that the Suwon Urban Development Corporation transfer its 5.3% stake in the Unam Valley AI City urban development project to Osan City on a paid basis.

During his meeting with Member Kim Sun-gyo, Mayor Lee Kwon-jae stated, "Since the launch of Osan Urban Development Corporation, there is strong public opinion that regional development projects should be led by the urban development corporation." He added, "I would appreciate it if you could serve as a bridge in transmitting our views to the Rural Community Corporation and in the equity transfer process so that the corporation can take the lead in promoting the Unam Valley AI urban development project, its first undertaking. Please also convey that we will include the opportunity costs in consideration of the estimated market interest rate at the time of equity transfer."

In response, Member Kim stated, "I will carefully review the content with my staff. I have a scheduled business meeting with the Rural Community Corporation soon, and I will explain and convey the proposals you have submitted to me."

Mayor Lee then requested that Member Kim serve as an intermediary between Gyeonggi Province and the Rural Community Corporation to enable the early creation of a citizens' healing space at Seorang Reservoir by: ▲lifting agricultural promotion zone designations ▲promoting direct projects by Osan City.

The Seorang Reservoir citizens' healing space project encompasses the creation of a reservoir deck road, rest areas, nighttime landscape lighting and sculptures, waterfront observation decks, and a waterfront stage around the Seorang Reservoir area.

However, Seorang Reservoir is currently designated as an agricultural promotion zone to secure agricultural water, making it difficult to construct sculptures and various amenities for the citizens' healing space. To create the healing space, the lifting of agricultural promotion zone designation is necessary. The core of the request is to ask Member Kim to advocate to Gyeonggi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs—the authorities that make this decision—about the necessity of such action.

Mayor Lee Kwon-jae stated, "At a critical juncture for Osan's autonomous urban development, I would be truly grateful if the Rural Community Corporation would listen to various proposals and reflect the voice of Osan. I would appreciate if Member Kim would communicate these matters well."